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Thursday, June 9, 2016

I don't know that anything's really changed; I've just learned to navigate the darkness. (Let that depressing statement linger for a while.)On that happy note...I don't fancy myself a feminist. And maybe it's just the effect of law school. Or being alone again for the first time in a little while and all the overthinking that comes of that. But my newfound feminista is also born of experience. My pre-law career didn't prepare me for any sort of sexism. Miss Honey, Ms. Frizzle, Ms. Krabappel, Miss Bliss (bless her heart for holding on to that "Miss" as long as possible). The image of the female elementary teacher is prevalent in pop culture.If a potential employer was expecting something else, that was really their fault. And then I went to law school.

I spent the last month of school in desperation, studying for finals while going on interview after interview in search of summer employment.One interview in particular had me so unsettled that I mentioned it to several friends:During this interview, I was asked what my sister and mother do for a living. Odd, irrelevant question, right?Upon hearing that they both chose the arduous and never-ending career of stay-at-home mothering, the conversation took a turn. I was told that I should ascertain whether the legal field was right for me because it is incredibly time consuming. My interviewer also inquired as to my relationship status. He oh-so-helpfully advised that, if I have a significant other who will be put off by my working late in the evening, I need to choose my relationship over my career.

I walked away absolutely certain that they would be offering the position to literally anyone else who happened to possess a Y chromosome.I walked away also doubting myself - was I reading too much into that?Nope. The question I kept coming back to was: Would he have said any of that to a man?This type of thing - not this exact situation, but little comments or situations that are ever-so-slightly discriminatory - is not at all uncommon.

Stories get passed around at our weekly happy hours. I won't be so audacious as to call them war stories, but for privileged white girls who (fingers crossed) won't have to face the draft, office buildings and law firms are our Yorktown in the revolution against crusty old men who just need to die or retire already.PLOT TWIST!I'm working at that law firm because F*** Bitches, Get Money, amiright?But really, I needed some income. #paycheck>principlesSo this one goes out to some of my favorite lady lawyers:

>>Ainsley HayesIn the first of her far-too-few appearances on the West Wing, Ainsley is shown absolutely owning the cute boy (on live TV, no less) after being wholly underestimated by his entire political party. A brainy, conservative, socially awkward blonde? HI, KINDRED SPIRIT.

Ainsley would agree with me: the feminist movement is inane and embarrassing, but we (occasionally) still need to wave that banner.>>Elle WoodsElle did it for a boy. And then she did it for herself. That is realistic & inspiring.There are lots of lessons to be learned from Legally Blonde:Don't write people off based on first impressions. Or second impressions. Get your motivation from yourself.Exercise prevents prison sentences. And a lesson I'm in the process of learning:

>>Margaret ThatcherAsses kicked by the Iron Lady: communism, inflation, government spending, Argentina. All while raising twins.

>>Honorable Mention: C.J. Cregg & Donna (from Suits)While not a lawyer, C.J. Cregg was close enough to the law to count. She handled being White House Press Secretary with wit and stood up to the President a time or two. I support it.And Donna is my lady love.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

It's been a while...again. I've been going through some shit. I normally try not to gratuitously curse, but it's not gratuitous. Everything is awful, terrible, cry-your-eyes-out shit.But it's made my sense of humor darker (if possible) so there's always a silver lining, right?I never wanted to blog about my relationship. It seemed too jinx-y and intimate. But luckily, I'm not in a relationship anymore. 😐

Note: This may seem inappropriately soon and make it appear like the relationship didn't mean anything to me. If only you knew. Humor is Stages 1-5 of my 5-stage grief management process. So shut your stupid mouth.

Breakups are hard. Breakups in law school defy description. This is how I've been surviving:

Law School Breakup Survival Kit

>> Seating Charts

All the law school prep books recommend against sitting next to your significant other in class. I understand that now. On the bright side, it gives us a chance to chat that we probably wouldn't take otherwise + forced interaction may be the best way to push past this and be friends. (Like, actual friends. It's possible, damnit.)>> WINE

As Donna Meagle says, "Wine is crying juice." And she is far from wrong. >> Terrible-wonderful food

There's an ancient San Antonian remedy that is said to cure nearly anything: chips and salsa. One of the few exceptions to this panacea: obesity. I've been doing a lot of emotional eating recently. Like...too much. I'm basically ensuring that I will never find anyone else unless I go on one of those gross fetish dating sites for chubby chasers. But it's helping to numb the pain in my heart...unless that's just the feeling of my arteries clogging. >> Distractions

To attempt to counteract the assault I've been launching on my bod via grief grub, I've maintained my gym schedule. I've also doubled down on work for school, requested extra tasks for journal, and started some recreational reading. I spend a lot of time in the sub-basement at school (which is just as cheery as it sounds) because I get more accomplished when my surroundings reflect my mood + there are people nearby. Literally anything to keep my mind off of the tragic void that is my life.>> Television

Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video. Another distraction technique. I'm now involved in approximately 18 television shows. I'm living vicariously through fictional characters. I think I'm handling this breakup in a completely healthy manner, right?>> Really fantastic friends who let you cry in public without judgment

Or if they are judging, they don't say anything. And that's just as nice. Nail salons, bars, restaurants, the parking lot of the law school--there really isn't a place that is off-limits to my emotions. But really, my friends have been great. I'm working harder on socializing, so that can be the good thing that comes out of this...I guess.

In all honesty, I'm going to be okay. Don't read this as a cry for help. I'm currently wallowing in my sorrows with relish. It turns out I'm super good at mourning. We all have our skill set.